Karnataka: Renukacharya expelled from BJP for anti-party activities

Bangalore: The ruling BJP in Karnataka on Tuesday expelled Karnataka Excise Minister MP Renukacharya for anti-party activites. The minister had earlier claimed that he paid kickbacks to former Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda

The BJP has expelled Excise Minister Renukacharya for six years. In his first initiative against indiscipline after taking over as the state BJP chief, Prahlad Joshi took the action against Renukacharya, saying he had been talking "lightly" about some state party leaders.

The expulsion of Renukacharya, close to BS Yeddyurappa, came on a day when he attacked former Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda, accusing him of corruption and threatening to expose him more in the coming days.

Renukacharya's expulsion comes a day after he accused ex-CM Gowda of corruption and threatened to expose him.

Gowda had hit back, saying Renukacharya was targeting him as he had acted against him during his chief ministership on certain charges against him.

"Your utterances against state leaders are a clear violation of party discipline and constitutes anti-party activity," Joshi said in a letter to Renukacharya, who had often raised the hackles of the state leadership for his attacks against them.

Renukacharya had made public critical comments against some other leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister KS Eshwarappa, embarrassing the party, which could ill afford any image of indiscipline ahead of the May five Assembly polls.

Renukacharya is expected to join the Karnataka Janata Party, floated by Yeddyurappa after he broke away from the BJP in 2012.